The architect, the communication designer, the fabricators and the start up

Project Kiosk

A collaborative effort to implement a new radical way of self-testing and swabbing for Covid-19 in areas of North America that previously had no local opportunity for this to happen. With the implementation of an efficient network of self-testing kiosks in local areas – old or young, mobility-impaired or able — can now take the test easily and with minimal instruction.

How did the collaboration come about?

Until a vaccine for Covid-19 is found, experts believe that widespread testing is the key to safely reopening schools, workplaces and public spaces. But there’s a problem with Covid-19 testing in the U.S – there is not enough happening, and it’s not getting testing to the people who need it most. Another challenge is that with many people staying home instead of taking transit and commuting to city centers where testing could be efficiently deployed, it is harder to get mass testing to large numbers of people.

The people at Gehl Architects were asked to collaborate with recent start-up Curative (a Covid-19 testing Start-up that grew from 0 to 1,500 employees in eight months) to establish a solution that grounds their recent innovation of non-invasive self-testing into the context of the city.

The collaboration of implementing the scheme required two scales of thinking: a human-centered design for the testing experience itself, and a large-scale deployment strategy that’s built on epidemiological and social factors like race, income, and access to transportation.

Collaborating with communications designer Justin Molloy and fabricators One Hat One Hand, the Gehl team worked in rapid, iterative cycles to test half a dozen versions of the design in public spaces before scaling up production with a national manufacturer.

Will the project continue beyond COVID-19 lockdown?

The project is purpose-built in response to the covid pandemic, and will continue beyond lockdown, to help people receive rapid testing in areas that before now had no opportunities in the local area.

How was the project funded

Curative, the Covid-19 Testing Start-up funded the project

Any other comments?

In order of importance, please choose the relevant factors that contributed to the success of this project?

Response to need
Response to COVID-19
The 'big' idea
Social impact
Delivery of Project
Combination of skill sets
Combination of participants
Volunteer support
Existing relationships
Available funding